A complicated issue in Uber accidents is deciding who’s responsible monetarily for the injuries. Is the taxi’s driver responsible? Or would the company of the driver be liable? Would the driver’s insurance be responsible to pay, or would it be that of the company? What if the Uber/Lyft driver was not on the clock when the accident happened?
Responsible Parties in Uber Accidents
An investigation is needed to know who acted negligently in Uber/Lyft accidents, as well as all other accidents. If another vehicle hits the taxi/rideshare while you are a riding as a passenger, the insurance of the other driver would be liable for paying for your injuries.
But what would happen if you were in an accident and it was your own driver’s fault? Who would then be responsible for paying?
Insurance Liability
Drivers use their own vehicles in taxis and rideshares. Therefore, there is a legal obligation for drivers to have insurance for the legal limits. If a driver has an accident while not working, their insurance would be the one to cover the cost of damages.
However, Uber/Lyft are required to provide insurance to their drivers also. One example would be if a rideshare driver was on the clock and had an accident, the company’s insurance would cover him or her. This is true for taxi drivers too: the insurance coverage would be provided by the taxi company for any injuries occurred while on the job, for both the driver and passengers.
Even though drivers of rideshares are often looked at as independent contractors, a lot of courts have stated that they’re also considered employees. Therefore, if you take legal action against an Uber/Lyft driver, it may be the liability of the company they work for according to the theory of vicarious liability.
If you were the driver or a passenger in a rideshare and were involved in an accident, you should contact an attorney to help you receive the maximum amount of damages possible.
For more questions such as why you should have an attorney after an accident, how much your claim might be worth, filing a claim, and more, contact an experienced attorney today.